Public Safety

POLICE AND FIRE NEWS IN BRIEF

Officer shoots pit bull; burglary suspect arrested

SAN DIEGO: A San Diego police officer investigating a burglary shot a charging pit bull at a home yesterday afternoon, authorities said.

The dog is expected to survive.

The officer was responding to a burglary call at 35th Street and Collier Avenue about 2 p.m., police said. The officer fired when the dog charged. The wounded dog then hid in a bedroom, where it was rescued by authorities.

The officer was not hurt, and at least one suspect was arrested. –K.D.

CRIME WATCH

Man is arrested in
attempted strangling

LA MESA: A man described by police as a transient has been arrested on suspicion of trying to kill his estranged wife by allegedly strangling her with his hands, authorities said yesterday.

The incident occurred Saturday night at an apartment on Spring Street near Gateside Road, Bond said. A friend of the victim was able to pull the suspect away, and he fled before police arrived, Bond said.

The woman suffered neck and leg injuries but did not require hospitalization, Bond said.

Jones contacted the woman several hours later and indicated he was returning to the apartment, Bond said. He was arrested by police when he returned about an hour later, shortly before midnight, Bond said. –S.S.

Nestor man is attacked
and then carjacked

SAN DIEGO: A man was attacked, blindfolded and carjacked in Nestor early yesterday by armed men in a car that rear-ended his truck.

The victim was stopped at Grove Street and Oro Vista Road in his black 2008 Chevrolet Silverado about midnight when three men in a red Chrysler PT Cruiser hit his truck, San Diego police said.

When he stepped out to see if there was any damage, he was hit in the head with a handgun, police said.

The car's driver, who reportedly also had a gun, then allegedly forced the victim back into his truck, where he was blindfolded. The gunman drove the man in the truck for a few minutes until forcing him into the Cruiser, after which he was driven around again, police said.

The men reportedly stole the man's money and cell phone, told him to get out and then drove off in the truck and the Cruiser.

The truck has California license plate 8L81283.

The victim suffered a minor head wound but did not require medical treatment, police said. –D.B.

Two men being sought
after post-karaoke attack

COLLEGE AREA: Police are asking for the public's help in finding two men who attacked a husband and wife and the couple's friend after a round of karaoke at a bar last month.

One of the men had just finished singing karaoke when he walked up to the husband and allegedly punched him several times in the face, San Diego police said yesterday.

The singer and another man were escorted out of the Mad Dog Saloon on El Cajon Boulevard near 71st Street shortly before 1:30 a.m. Nov. 15.